Dear members and supporters of the Diocesan Rosary Congresses,

I retired many years ago as a Pastoral Minister, and I had been asking the Lord how I might still be of good service to Him. My answer came while watching Eternal Word Television Network. The Church Universal is a program that shares how ideas and organizations from around the world are living and growing our Catholic faith. A segment on the Holy Rosary Congress held my attention and spoke to my heart. I have had a lifelong and cherished devotion to the Blessed Mother and the Holy Rosary. Thus began the work of bringing the Holy Rosary Congress to the Diocese of Lansing.

I enlisted my friend Maureen to assist in the effort, and our first order of business was seeking Bishop Earl Boyea’s endorsement and blessing. Once received, we began to reach out to each of the 92 parishes in the Diocese of Lansing through letters and follow-up phone calls. The first year we enlisted the participation of 8 parishes. We then obtained assistance from the Diocesan Director of Communications, and our efforts began to bear great fruit. Four years later, we now count among 40 parish participants. We hope to have more this next year.

This year’s Holy Rosary Congress takes place from October 7 (the Feast of the Holy Rosary) through October 13, 2023 (the anniversary of the last apparition of Our Lady of Fatima). We come to Jesus through his Blessed Mother Mary, and in this glorious week we give honor and glory to her Son through Eucharistic Adoration. What greater honor and blessings to Jesus and his mother could there be?

Faith, belief in the power of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration, and perseverance are the keys to this work. We do the legwork, and the outcome is in God’s hands. The third chapter of the Book of Samuel tells the story of God’s call to service to a very young Samuel. “The Lord called to Samuel, who answered, “Here I am.” (1 Samuel 3:4) I, too, heard God’s call to service four years ago, at 89 years of age. God calls the very young and the very old alike, and great works for God can come forward at any age. I am now 94 and still pray, like Samuel, “Here I am.”

In His holy service,